Transcript Highlights:

• as arts education month in Colorado. as arts education month in Colorado.
• > is theater arts, visual arts, and more, is theater arts, visual arts, and more, is a<00:29:44.480
• Arts Month starts today.
• The arts, including visual arts, music, theater, dance, and media arts, are essential to a well-rounded
• The arts, including visual arts, music, theater, dance, and media arts, are essential to a well-rounded

Keywords: 981, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum present, approved the February 27, 2026 journal, and then moved out of order to consider resolutions. Senate Resolution 003, designating March as Arts Education Month in Colorado, was read at length and supported by Senators Snyder and Basley, who emphasized the educational, social, and economic value of arts instruction and noted concerns about unequal access across the state. Senator Coleman and Senator Danielson also spoke in support, highlighting personal experiences with the arts and the importance of preserving arts programs in schools. The resolution passed unanimously, 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The chamber then adopted House Joint Resolution 1019, recognizing Caregiving Youth Day. Senator Judah described caregiving youth as children and teens who provide substantial care for family members while balancing school and other responsibilities, citing statewide and national data on the prevalence of youth caregivers and the risks they face. Senator Gonzales also spoke in support, urging the legislature to recognize and support this often invisible work. The resolution passed 35-0, and the current roll call was added as co-sponsors. The Senate next took up third-reading consent calendar House Bill 1035, which enacts the 2025 Colorado Revised Statutes as positive and statutory law; it passed 32-3, with Senators Baisley, Lynda Zamora Wilson, and Long voting no. Senate Bill 53, expanding eligible borrowers for Colorado Housing and Finance Authority mortgages, then passed 29-6 after no-vote requests from Senators Zamora Wilson, Amabile, Sullivan, Hinrichsen, Baisley, and R. Pelton. House Bill 1064, concerning modifications to the youthful offender system, passed 23-12 after several no-vote requests, and Senate Bill 43, concerning regulation of firearm barrel transfers and related criminal penalties, was introduced for final passage with Senator Zamora Wilson delivering extended opposition focused on Second Amendment and fiscal concerns; the transcript cuts off before the vote on that bill.

Transcript Highlights:

• The art teacher came back, but there were other schools in our district that had openings for art. teachers
• The Fine Arts funding allotment in House Bill 2 would fund music, art, theater, and dance.
• Funding arts education not only supports the arts but also leads to improved access to education.
• Fine Arts students... set the foundation for our arts and cultural industry, which generated $7.3 billion
• This investment in arts education impacts more than just a student's experience in a fine arts course

Bills: HB2, HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace

Transcript Highlights:

• This is from the last biennium, the new state art of the arts.
• We partner with Texans for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts to achieve this.
• Public arts funding is vital.
• We love art; art is transformative. Debra Heater: ...art is transformative.
• Texans for the Arts fully supports all of the exceptional items in the budget regarding arts funding.

Bills: SB1, SB 1

Keywords: appropriations, budget, state funding, education, healthcare, infrastructure, campground safety, youth camp regulations, flood safety, emergency evacuation, health and safety standards, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I mean, just let's face it, there's no arts council. This supports the traditional arts programs.
• People want to work on the arts, they can work on the arts.
• let's face it, there's no arts council. let's face it, there's no arts council.
• This supports the traditional arts This supports the traditional arts programs.<00:46:03.520>
• on the arts, they can work on the arts. on the arts, they can work on the arts.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, to Capitol for the gorgeous art.
• ,<00:26:22.040> it's art, it's art, it's honestly<00:26:23.800> a<00:26:23.880> wonderful
• > covers<00:26:33.800> the underground halls, art covers the underground halls, art covers
• So, this lot of public art galleries.
• If it's inspiring people in the art.

Keywords: 918, senate, all

Summary: This episode of Senate Spotlight focused on several nonpartisan Senate offices and programs that help lawmakers and the public understand the legislative process. It highlighted the Civility Caucus, where Republican Sen. Zach Duckworth and DFL Sen. Grant Hauschild work to build relationships across party lines, especially important in a closely divided Senate and during a bonding year that requires a two-thirds vote for infrastructure spending. Speakers emphasized that the caucus is about civility, empathy, and laying groundwork for future bipartisan work rather than guaranteeing agreement on specific bills. The program also explained how Minnesotans can track legislative activity through the Senate Journal and the fiscal review. Staff described the Journal as a public record of votes, amendments, roll calls, and other actions, useful for checking how senators voted on bills that passed or failed. The fiscal review was presented as a nonpartisan, award-winning summary of the enacted budget, with examples of how readers can find spending details by page and a discussion of plans to make the document more interactive and web-based. Viewers were also directed to the Senate website to look up senators’ contact information and to the Legislature’s bill-tracking system. Another segment covered Senate File 901, a bipartisan bill by Sen. Eric Pratt that funded an equine-assisted therapy program for first responders dealing with trauma. Testimony described how the program has helped police, firefighters, dispatchers, and correctional officers stay on the job and recover mentally, with lawmakers noting its strong support and practical benefits. The episode also featured Senate pages and interns, who described their behind-the-scenes work supporting committee meetings and learning the legislative process, and concluded with a segment on Capitol art and a new public gallery meant to inspire good government and showcase Minnesota artists.

Transcript Highlights:

• in fine arts often find their acceptance in a fine arts class or organization.
• I've heard a lot about fine arts.
• The fine arts allotment provides the targeted support needed to bring meaningful arts education to the
• Funding the fine arts allotment would allow more students access to quality fine arts programs.
• Funding the fine arts allotment would allow more students access to quality fine arts programs.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: disaster preparedness, emergency management, flooding, mass fatality, mass casualty, fatality tracking, body recovery, autopsy, justice of the peace, medical examiner, county judge, sheriff, mayor, emergency coordinator, emergency manager license, volunteer management system, volunteer registration, criminal history check, background check, Texas Division of Emergency Management

Summary: The committee continued public testimony on House Bill 2, which would make major changes to public school funding, teacher pay, special education, early learning, school safety, and related programs. Many superintendents and education advocates supported the bill’s overall direction but urged changes, especially a larger basic allotment and more flexible funding for rural and small districts. Witnesses from Paint Creek, West Hardin, Cushing, Blooming Grove, Mildred, Buffalo, Plano, and rural school groups said the bill’s targeted raises and new requirements would not fully cover inflation, TRS/Medicare costs, transportation, insurance, or support staff salaries, and several asked the committee to restore the House version’s higher basic allotment and small-school allotment. Charter school representatives supported the facilities funding changes and said charter schools need state help because they cannot levy taxes, while also noting the funding gap with ISDs. Fine arts advocates asked the committee to restore the fine arts allotment, arguing arts improve engagement, attendance, and academic outcomes, especially in rural and at-risk communities. Early learning and special education witnesses supported parts of the bill but raised concerns about pre-K restrictions, disability-related pre-K access, and the need to preserve or clarify special education provisions and mental health oversight language. Several witnesses praised the teacher pay raise, teacher incentive allotment expansion, and teacher preparation investments, saying they would help recruit and retain educators and improve student outcomes. Others, including counselors and support staff advocates, argued the bill should also include raises for counselors, nurses, librarians, bus drivers, custodians, aides, and other non-teaching employees who keep schools running. One witness from the Texas Counseling Association opposed the substitute because it removed a counselor pay provision, warning of counselor shortages and inequities. A parent and special education advocate said the bill’s structure creates too many strings attached and asked for a larger basic allotment instead of more targeted funding. Another witness from Mental Health America urged keeping the collaborative task force on public school mental health services through 2031, and a disability rights advocate said the committee substitute appears to omit some special education items that were in the House version. The committee also briefly took up House Bill 6, a school discipline bill. After questions about automatic mandatory expulsion for vape possession and concerns about younger students, the committee adopted the substitute and voted to report HB 6 favorably to the full Senate by a 9-1 vote, with Senator Menendez voting no and Senators West and Menendez expressing reservations but supporting further discussion. After that vote, testimony on HB 2 resumed. Senators used the hearing to ask about the bill’s cost, the difference between the basic allotment and the bill’s targeted funding buckets, and whether the permanent teacher pay increase shifts pressure off districts. The bill’s supporters emphasized that it represents an historic, roughly $8 billion investment and that many of the new funding streams are intended to be permanent or to address specific district needs.

Transcript Highlights:

• On line 260 is the start of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• line 266, there's $4.2 million for arts and cultural heritage.
• In total, there's $85.458 million going to the State Arts Board.
• I'm going to talk about the policy portions of the arts article.
• Then there was another one-eighth for arts, and the last piece was one-sixteenth for arts.

Bills: HF2563

Keywords: HF2563, legacy finance bill, Legacy Amendment, outdoor heritage fund, clean water fund, parks and trails fund, arts and cultural heritage fund, Lessard-Sams Outdoor Heritage Council, Clean Water Council, Minnesota legacy funds, habitat conservation, prairie restoration, wetland restoration, forest conservation, riparian buffers, water quality, groundwater protection, drinking water, septic systems, watershed planning

Transcript Highlights:

• From music to the arts.
• MPR News brings arts and culture to our programming.
• I'm here to talk to you today about Art Hounds.
• We're going to be covering 10 of the 11 regional arts council districts.
• The Arts and Culture Department is responsible for providing the arts and cultural heritage funds for

Bills: HF1679, HF1019, HF2321, HF1740, HF2278

Keywords: public television, funding, grants, arts and culture, Minnesota, Minnesota Public Radio, arts education, cultural heritage, community engagement, public radio, community radio, educational grants, community cable, public access, programming funding, civic engagement, ethnic media, public access television, Minnesota Humanities Center, funding appropriation

Transcript Highlights:

• arts and culture. All four of which my arts and culture.
• And it helped to preserve community and culture, and also help fund arts programs, arts projects, and
• We designate 47% to the Minnesota State Arts Board to do their own solicitation for community arts to
• <00:24:55.840> and appropriation and under the arts and appropriation and under the arts and
• <00:26:02.559> and artist and culture the 53% of arts and artist and culture the 53% of arts

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And of course, arts and culture us.
• We also invested in the arts and cultural heritage fund, supporting arts, cultural, and community programs
• art and cultural heritage fund supporting<00:05:05.199> arts,<00:05:05.639> cultural<00
• engaged in our cultural arts and legacy. engaged in our cultural arts and legacy.
• <00:13:00.959> and Minnesota Latino community of arts and Minnesota Latino community of arts

Keywords: 919, house, all

Summary: The House considered a conference committee report on House File 2563, the legacy bill, and members described it as a bipartisan agreement with the Senate. Representative Vang outlined several major changes from the House version, including restoring funding for Peace in the Valley in parks and trails, moving Wilderness Inquiry funding to the arts and culture fund, increasing the Minnesota Zoo to $3.4 million, raising the Children’s Museum to $1 million, setting aside $1.5 million for a competitive grant pool for children’s museums statewide, and increasing the Science Museum to $700,000. Supporters said the bill invests in clean water, parks and trails, outdoor heritage, arts and cultural heritage, and a new community identity and heritage grant program for underserved communities. Several members spoke in favor of the report, emphasizing the value of legacy funds for conservation, cultural programming, tourism, and community identity. Speakers highlighted specific beneficiaries and projects, including outdoor heritage groups, the Science Museum, Latino arts and mural projects, and competitive funding for creative arts and music. One member noted that some state agencies also received appropriations in the bill and criticized fee increases on Minnesotans, while another said the bill reflected a fair negotiation process and that some programs saw reductions because of a $33.1 million accounting-related shortfall. After debate, the House adopted the conference committee report. The clerk then took the roll, and the bill was repassed as amended by conference on a vote of 113 yeas and 21 nays, with its title agreed to.

Transcript Highlights:

• I'm the artistic director of Celebration Arts.
• I serve as Policy Chair of California Arts Advocates, our statewide arts and culture advocacy organization
• I serve as Policy Chair of California Arts Advocates, our statewide arts and culture advocacy organization
• Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund.
• certainly believe in the arts and the creative economy and why these arts—last year we had, you know

Summary: The subcommittee first heard an informational presentation on the May Revision’s proposed reorganization of the Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency into separate housing-focused and consumer/business-focused entities. Administration officials said the split would improve oversight, streamline decision-making, and create a dedicated California Housing and Homelessness Agency with a new housing development and finance committee. The Department of Finance said funding was needed in 2025-26 to begin implementation, while the LAO recommended rejecting the proposal without prejudice because the Little Hoover Commission review was still pending and the plan would require ongoing General Fund costs. Members raised concerns about the timing, the lack of alignment with the budget process, and whether the reorganization would improve accountability for homelessness spending; several public witnesses supported the concept but stressed it could not substitute for new housing and homelessness dollars. The committee then took up the Department of Veterans Affairs. CalVet requested funding for phase three of its electronic health care record project and a trailer bill to preserve authority for federal background checks, but the May Revision withdrew requests for deferred maintenance and additional administrative support. The LAO noted deferred maintenance can prevent larger future costs, and the chair criticized the withdrawal of less than $1 million for veterans’ homes as short-sighted given existing repair needs. No vote was taken. Next, the Department of Housing and Community Development presented its budget. HCD said the May Revision provides no new affordable housing or homelessness funding, but does retain existing rounds of funding and proposes a $31.7 million reversion from undersubscribed housing programs. Members from both parties expressed concern about zeroing out ongoing housing and homelessness investments, especially for LIHTC, the Multifamily Housing Program, and HAP. HCD also defended its homelessness accountability and compliance work, saying the unit includes about 30 program staff and six attorneys, with three additional attorneys requested mainly to handle public records and litigation workload. Public commenters largely opposed the lack of new funding and urged continued support for housing and homelessness programs, while some supported the reorganization and accountability efforts. Finally, the committee heard Go-Biz proposals. The administration requested authority to increase funding for a federal trade program match if needed, plus reappropriations for administrative funds tied to the Containerized Ports Interoperability Grant Program, zero-emission vehicle operations, and the Women’s Business Center Enhancement Program. It also proposed withdrawing the Cal Competes grant request and reverting remaining funds from the Performing Arts Equitable Payroll Fund. The LAO said Cal Competes is generally effective but could be cut as a budget solution, while warning that the performing arts fund was close to awards and should be considered carefully. Members objected to pulling back committed funds for performing arts organizations and questioned why the state would withdraw support after applications had already been submitted.

Transcript Highlights:

• Miror Joseph's art was showcased in the Capitol's North Corridor.
• I've always associated with art is honestly a wonderful feeling.
• It really is a story of art, bronze busts, and painted portraits.
• From the ceilings to the Underground Halls, art covers the Capitol's walls.
• There was also the hope that life might imitate art.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And we partner with Texans for the Arts and the Texas Commission on the Arts to achieve this.
• The Texas Commission on the Arts designated a 40-block area surrounding the square as a special art zone
• We love art. Art is transformative. Art drives economic development. Thank you for your time.
• I'm here as a board member to testify on behalf of Texans for the Arts, which advocates for robust arts
• These operational grants are not just about supporting arts for arts' sake.

Summary: The Senate Finance Committee heard budget presentations for the Texas Historical Commission, the Pension Review Board, the Employees Retirement System (ERS), Social Security and benefit replacement pay, the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System (TESSRS), and the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). The Legislative Budget Board outlined recommendations and major changes for each agency, including reductions tied to one-time projects at the Historical Commission, continued funding for courthouse grants, heritage trails, and Holocaust/genocide education, as well as new or modified riders and capital items. For the pension-related items, LBB described funding changes for PRB, ERS, Social Security, and TESSRS, including ERS health plan cost growth driven largely by pharmacy costs, the status of pension funding reforms, and TESSRS’s request for additional state support to address its unfunded liability and staffing needs. Members asked extensive questions about the Historical Commission’s one-time funding, unexpended balance authority, courthouse preservation, the Presidio La Bahia and National Museum of the Pacific War projects, and coordination of Texas history messaging across sites such as the Alamo, San Jacinto, Washington on the Brazos, and other heritage locations. The Historical Commission chair emphasized heritage tourism, economic development, and the need for continued investment in historic sites, staffing, IT modernization, and vehicles. On the pension items, senators discussed PRB oversight of local systems, including the Dallas police and fire pension situation, and ERS investment returns, benchmark comparisons, and rising health costs. ERS officials said the plan remains well funded overall, noted a 2021 cash balance reform and a planned supplemental legacy payment, and explained that GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro are a major driver of pharmacy spending; they also said the agency is working with the Texas Pharmacy Initiative and that rebates are contractually returned to ERS. For TESSRS, LBB and agency staff said the system serves volunteer and part-paid emergency personnel, is facing an infinite amortization period, and is requesting additional appropriations, staffing, and IT funding, along with a statutory change to allow an actuarially determined state contribution. The agency said it may otherwise need to cut benefits for volunteer firefighters. For CPRIT, LBB reported about $600 million in recommended funding for the biennium and a 10-FTE increase, while the agency described its $6 billion voter-approved program, $3.75 billion in grants awarded to date, and $10.4 million in revenue sharing since 2011. CPRIT’s only exceptional item was a request for a 10% salary increase for two exempt positions. No committee votes or formal actions were taken in the transcript.

Transcript Highlights:

• Years as a fine arts educator and administrator.
• The fine arts are essential. They're not optional.
• It happens in art, dance, music, and theater programs on a daily basis. ...Fine Arts participation is
• The Fine Arts Allotment provides the targeted support needed to bring meaningful arts education to the
• Funding the Fine Arts Allotment would allow more students access to quality fine arts programs.

Bills: HB2

Keywords: public education, teacher compensation, certification, funding, school finance, educator rights, education funding, charter schools, staff compensation, state aid, retention allotment, 1185, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt arts non-profit 501c3 tax-exempt arts organization<00:04:34.600>
• They cover the whole gamut of what arts is defined as.
• 09:59.120> this<00:09:59.480> is The Arts Partnership Program, this is The Arts Partnership
• Launched the Arts Partnership Program.
• <00:12:33.760> partnership does not include the arts partnership does not include the arts

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The Commission on Race and Access to Opportunity met and first heard a presentation from Johnny Cole III, president and CEO of the African American Forum in Lexington. Cole described the organization’s 30-plus year history, its signature events and programs, and its mission to promote African American arts, culture, education, and community development. He said the group has reached more than 60,000 people through events and more than 90,000 students through its arts partnership work, and estimated its programs have generated about $4.5 million in local economic impact. He also outlined a proposed legacy project in Lexington’s First Council District that would include a facility, culinary kitchen, food court, mobile truck, and expanded communications and internship opportunities, and said the organization was seeking a $3 million state request to help purchase a building and expand its mission. The committee then discussed a juvenile justice funding proposal presented by Senator Catoria Herring. Herring said the bill would create a juvenile justice fund for prevention, early intervention, alternatives to detention, re-entry, and wraparound services, with money coming from state appropriations, gifts, grants, and federal funds. She said the proposal was based on her experience in juvenile justice and on concerns that the state has invested heavily in detention facilities but not enough in upstream services. She cited recent facility spending and said the bill would seek $9 million. Members asked how the fund would work, who could apply, and how it would be overseen; Herring said she envisioned a grant program open to local governments, law enforcement, nonprofits, and school districts, with reporting requirements and oversight through the juvenile justice system. No vote was taken, and the discussion ended with general support and a suggestion to adjust the request amount to a round $9 million figure.

Transcript Highlights:

• I want to welcome you to this morning's hearing of the Assembly Committee on Arts, Entertainment, Sports
• He is the arts manager for Sacramento, responsible for all art and public places across our city and
• We recognize the Art in Public Places program was established in 1977 and hires artists in visual art
• I feel like our trades, I feel like that's really art.
• Public art is so worth fighting for.

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:33:09.919> and fund for the Division of the Arts and fund for the Division of the Arts
• ,<00:33:52.080> uh, sustainable funding for the arts, uh, sustainable funding for the arts
• arts organization to support the arts arts organization to support the arts generally<00:38:54.400
• connection to the arts, don't you? connection to the arts, don't you?
• I have the to help the arts program.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So, Western art culture depends on this. I had an artist from St.
• We had discussions with the Arts and Creative Materials Institute.
• We own Wet Paint Art Supply on Grand Avenue in St.
• We have a close relationship with the art and art education community, locally and nationally, and with
• I'm going to first talk about cadmium and lead in art supplies.

Transcript Highlights:

• The State Arts Board received its statutory 47%.
• The State Arts Board received its statutory 47%.
• <01:20:09.199> and 263 is the start of the arts and 263 is the start of the arts and cultural
• And then um state arts board, excuse me.
• On line 275 is the the state arts board.

Bills: HF2446, HF2563, HF2444

Keywords: agriculture finance, broadband development, Department of Agriculture, Board of Animal Health, Agricultural Utilization Research Institute, Office of Broadband Development, food safety, food handler license, cottage food, home processed food, livestock dealer, meat packing company, milk marketer, milk marketing license, grain buyer, grain storage, beginning farmer, emerging farmer, farm down payment assistance, livestock investment grant

Transcript Highlights:

• If you're talking about music and art and they like music and art, if you can incorporate a tobacco prevention
• If you're talking about music and art and they like music and art, if you can incorporate a tobacco prevention
• If you're talking about music and art and they like music and art, if you can incorporate a tobacco prevention
• art.
• Arts Absolutely—it's formerly Branden House Arts—and they are located off of Green Mountain Drive here

Keywords: 1204, all